Major International Business Headlines Brief ::: 22 Jul 2025

[Bulls n Bears]

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Major International Business Headlines Brief :::  22 Jul  2025 

 


 


 


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ü  Nigeria: Zamfara Establishes Small Claims Courts to Boost Business
Climate

ü  Nigeria: Tinubu to Inaugurate College of Petroleum Studies Kaduna

ü  South Africa: Eight Injured After Protesters Petrol Bomb Golden Arrow Bus

ü  Nigeria: Most Nigeria-China Trades Undocumented - Envoy

ü  Nigeria: Shettima Calls for Concerted Effort to Save Nigeria's Forest

ü  Sudan to Block WhatsApp Calls Citing Security Concerns

ü  Africa's Minerals Are Being Bartered for Security - Why It's a Bad Idea

ü  Cameroon Nears Full Cocoa Traceability As EU Deadline Looms, but Risks
Remain

ü  South Africa: Wage Dispute Grounds Several FlySafair Planes

ü  Somalia: Liquidation and Termination of the Administered Account for
Somalia

ü  Congo-Kinshasa: Soaring Demand for Electric Vehicles, Lithium-Ion
Batteries Creates Environmental Crisis in DRC

ü  Nigeria: Electricity Regulator Slashes Band a Tariff, Gives Reason

ü  Nigeria: Indigenous Oil and Gas Summit Postponed Indefinitely Amid
Planning Concerns

ü  Africa: SMEs Urged to Tap Trade Opportunities in Horn of Africa

 


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Nigeria: Zamfara Establishes Small Claims Courts to Boost Business Climate

Gusau — -- launches Five Courts, Amends Laws to Attract Investment

 

In a strategic move to invigorate its economic landscape, the Zamfara State
Government has unveiled sweeping legal and institutional reforms aimed at
improving the ease of doing business, including the establishment of five
Small Claims Courts to expedite commercial dispute resolution.

 

The development was announced on Monday during a town hall meeting on the
State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), organized by the
Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and held at the
Dr. Garba Nadama Hall, JB Yakubu Secretariat, in Gusau.

 

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mallam Mani
Mummuni, affirmed the state's commitment to economic transformation through
regulatory and legislative overhauls.

 

"The Zamfara State Government has embraced this crucial Federal Government
initiative by forming the State Ease of Doing Business Council. We have also
domesticated the initiative through the SABER framework," Mummuni stated.

 

According to him, the reforms cover key areas such as land administration,
tax simplification, infrastructure expansion, business incentives, and
dispute resolution mechanisms.

 

"One of the most notable outcomes is the creation of five dedicated Small
Claims Courts with specific practice directions. These courts are designed
to fast-track the resolution of business-related cases and create a more
secure environment for entrepreneurs and investors," he added.

 

Sani Bukkuyum, the state's PEBEC Focal Person and Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Budget and Planning, emphasized the importance of stakeholder
participation, urging attendees to propose solutions that will further
improve the state's business climate.

 

"Let us build a future-oriented Zamfara, where businesses thrive and
development is inclusive and sustainable," he urged.

 

The forum also featured goodwill messages from other senior officials. Aminu
Guraguri, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, applauded the
initiative, highlighting the critical role of public-private collaboration
in economic growth.

 

Hajiya Saadatu Abdu Gusau, Permanent Secretary of the Donor and Multilateral
Agency Coordination Office, described the reforms as timely, noting
Zamfara's untapped potential in both human and natural resources.

 

"With the right policies, strategic partnerships, and institutional reforms,
Zamfara can unlock its full economic potential," she said.

 

Stakeholders at the forum underscored the urgency of reducing bureaucratic
red tape, restoring investor confidence, and fostering a transparent
regulatory environment.

 

They expressed optimism that the new measures will place Zamfara on the
national map as an emerging hub for commerce, investment, and inclusive
development.

 

"By working together, we can streamline processes and implement bold,
forward-thinking policies that will position Zamfara as a model of economic
growth and prosperity in Nigeria," the officials concluded.

 

Read the original article on Vanguard.

 

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Tinubu to Inaugurate College of Petroleum Studies Kaduna

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended for granting the College of
Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna (CPESK) a provisional license to
operate as a private postgraduate university.

 

Governor Uba Sani, who praised Tinubu when the executive secretary of the
Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Ahmad Galadima Aminu, paid him a
courtesy call on Monday, disclosed that President Tinubu has accepted to
commission the college later this month.

 

"We cannot make progress in a fast-changing and complex society if we fail
to develop local capacity. This College, if well supported, has the
potential of developing local manpower that will change the face of
Nigeria's Petroleum Industry," Sani added.

 

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Ahmad Galadima Aminu, said his team
visited Governor Sani to brief him on the progress made toward the college's
launch.

 

Aminu said that the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, will
admit its first cohort of PhD students in September 2025.

 

A total of 3,702 applications were received by the PTDF for the Split-Site
PhD Programme. Currently, screening and interviews are ongoing, and
successful candidates will soon be admitted into five faculties," he added.

 

Read the original article on Leadership.

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Eight Injured After Protesters Petrol Bomb Golden Arrow Bus

Protesters in Philippi are demanding jobs on MyCiti roadworks

 

Eight passengers were seriously injured after a Golden Arrow bus was petrol
bombed in Philippi early on Monday at the corner of Duinefontein and Govan
Mbeki Roads.

 

A second bus was also set alight at around 8am and was quickly extinguished
with no injuries reported, said Golden Arrow Bus Service spokesperson
Bronwen Dyke-Beyer.

 

Those injured in the first fire were taken to hospital.

 

A group of residents, unhappy that they have not been given jobs on the
under-contruction MyCiti bus project on Govan Mbeki Road, protested
throughout the day on Monday, blocking parts of the road. The group
acknowledged they were responsible for petrol bombing the buses.

 

"We are tired of not being listened to when we ask for clarity and more
information on the ongoing construction of the MyCiti bus projects," said
protest leader Zamuxolo Makeleni.

 

"When we see an opportunity to disrupt, we will do so until the City comes
on board and listens to our demands. Our demands are legitimate."

 

Vehicles were stoned by protesters and blocked from passing through. Tyres
and debris were set alight on the road. Teenagers also participated in the
protest.

 

Last week, during a similar protest, a car was set alight in front of the
municipal sub-council offices, and a contractor's vehicle and a Golden Arrow
bus were stoned.

 

Philippi resident Sinethemba Thobani said the protesters were a small
minority group with a selfish agenda. "Blocking roads, stoning company cars,
torching of buses, and damaging property will never be the answer. If the
demands of the protesters are legitimate, they must approach the relevant
departments and engage," he told GroundUp.

 

Mayco member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas said the City will not accede to
any demands for the project work to be halted, as this will result in
additional costs for the City. He requested community members be patient,
allow the contractor to proceed, and follow the protocols.

 

Read the original article on GroundUp.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Most Nigeria-China Trades Undocumented - Envoy

The Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Beijing, Ambassador
Babagana Wakil, has said most trades between Nigeria and China are not
documented.

 

He disclosed this when he hosted a team of journalists and top officers of
the Nigeria Customs Service, who were in China for a separate training
program, at the embassy on Monday.

 

According to Amb Wakil, the official trade volume between Nigeria and China
stands at around $20 billion in 2024.

 

He, however, said most trades were informal and not documented, adding that
the trade volume for last year could reach $80 billion if those in the
informal sector were captured.

 

"I was formerly the economic desk officer of the embassy and I know that the
trade volume (between Nigeria and China) is far beyond what is being
reported because more than half is undocumented and in the informal sector.

 

"Pre-covid, we had less than $20 billion but we are looking at more than $70
to $80 billion now," he said.

 

The envoy disclosed that after China upgraded its relationship with Nigeria
to a comprehensive level in 2024, the two countries had increased engagement
in many sectors.

 

He said many trade agreements have been signed and were being currently
implemented by both countries, adding that discussions were ongoing to sign
fresh Memorandum of Understandings.

 

Amb Wakil, therefore, highlighted the need for the visiting Customs officers
to understudy their counterparts in China to improve their operations when
they return home.

 

He also charged the visiting journalists to continue contributing their
quota to national development by objectively reporting the activities of
Nigerians in the diaspora while also sensitising them on the need to be
law-abiding while in foreign lands.

 

The leader of the delegation from Customs, Assistant Controller-General
Oluyomi Abolaji Adebokin, said having a good knowledge of how the Customs in
China operates was pertinent following the increase in trade volume between
the two countries.

 

Read the original article on Daily Trust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Shettima Calls for Concerted Effort to Save Nigeria's Forest

Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned about the critical state of
Nigeria's forests and its economic implications if not tackled immediately,
calling or concerted effort to remedy the situation.

 

Shettima disclosed this at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, during the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025.

 

The summit was organised by the Presidential Committee on Economic and
Financial Inclusion(PreCEFI) Secretariat, with the theme: "Sustainability of
Nigeria's Forests: Unlocking the $2 billion potentials for economic and
financial inclusion.

 

The Vice President, who was represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the
President, Ibrahim Hadejia, stressed that the summit must be remembered not
as just another policy dialogue, but as a turning point where investment,
innovation and industrialization of Nigerians forest economy for sustainable
national progress was discussed.

 

This is as the Founder/CEO of Netzence sustainability limited (Netzence),
Dr. Sadiq Sani assured that his company is using technology to unlock the
over two billion dollars potentials in the forest sector.

 

Speaking while declaring the summit open, Shettima said "more than 90
percent of Nigeria's original forest cover has been depleted, and over
400,000 hectares lost annually, saying the situation was not an
environmental crisis, but "economic emergency."

 

He stressed that the country is at a crossroads and that neglecting forest
resources directly impoverishes the nation and its people.

 

"We cannot underestimate the importance of our forests. They are a treasure
trove of biodiversity, timber, medicinal plants, and other valuable products
that underpin agriculture, trade, health, climate resilience, and finance.
Yet this vast potential remains largely untapped."

 

The VP said Nigeria could not ignore this challenge and called for
innovation and inclusion, saying: "Embedding financial services in
forest-based livelihoods will improve credit access, savings, insurance, and
digital tools -- crucial for the 30 million Nigerians who remain financially
excluded, especially women and girls."

 

Founder and CEO of Netzence, Dr. Sani, who was one of the key speakers at
the event, said his company is contributing to provide technology that will
unlock over two billion dollars from the nation's forestry.

 

He promised that Netzence is contributing to providing the technology needed
to unlock the potential of $2 billion for Nigerian forestry, adding that
"Our goal is to provide technology that allows us to measure emissions--the
greenhouse gases (GHG) in our environment--and see how we can realize carbon
credits for the environment as well. That is our fundamental aim through our
proprietary technology CloseCarbon."

 

He said the company is using technology built for the forestry environment,
saying "We're currently building models regarding forest composition and
decomposition. This lets us understand emissions and greenhouse gas levels
in the forestry environment, and also the amount of carbon credit."

 

Answering questions from Journalists, he said the Company is currently
working with the Federal Government from the presidency, ministries, like
Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and Environment and agencies under
the Ministry of Environment.

 

Read the original article on Daily Trust.

 

 

 

 

Sudan to Block WhatsApp Calls Citing Security Concerns

Khartoum — Sudan's Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority has
announced a nationwide block on voice and video calls via WhatsApp,
effective Friday, 25 July, citing national security concerns. The authority
said the move is a "precautionary measure" to address threats to national
stability and safeguard the country's interests.

 

In a statement by the regulator, they confirmed that text messaging and
group chats will remain unaffected but urged users to accept the
restrictions in the name of national interest.

 

The decision has provoked widespread criticism, with activists and digital
rights defenders describing it as an attack on freedom of communication.

 

An activist who spoke to Radio Dabanga anonymously said the restriction is
less about national security and more about controlling the public space and
silencing dissent in a time of political crisis and protest. "This isn't
about safety. It's about shutting people up. In a time of war, people need
more transparency, not isolation."

 

Digital policy expert Ammar Hamouda said the move reflects a combination of
security, political, and commercial motives. While the government previously
framed similar restrictions in economic terms, he said this time the
security justification is front and centre, even as the economic burden on
civilians is ignored.

 

A group of Sudanese engineers condemned the ban, calling it a "direct
infringement" on digital freedoms. They warned the decision would severely
impact civilians who depend on WhatsApp to organise aid, seek support, and
communicate with family.

 

"National security is not achieved by blocking services, but by building
trust and creating a safe, open digital space," the group said, demanding
the immediate reversal of the decision.

 

With WhatsApp restricted, many users are now turning to VPNs, satellite
services like Starlink, or foreign SIM cards to stay connected.

 

However, these workarounds come with high costs, technical barriers, and
legal uncertainty. Hamouda noted that no clear law bans VPN use, making the
block difficult to enforce in practice.

 

While telecom companies may benefit short-term from increased international
call traffic, experts warn that the broader impact on public trust, access,
and digital rights will be long-lasting.

 

"This is more than a technical issue," Hamouda told Radio Dabanga. "It
reflects a deeper breakdown in governance and the rights of people to
communicate freely in the midst of war."

 

Read the original article on Dabanga.

 

 

 

 

 

Africa's Minerals Are Being Bartered for Security - Why It's a Bad Idea

A US-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and
Rwanda binds the two African nations to a worrying arrangement: one where a
country signs away its mineral resources to a superpower in return for
opaque assurances of security.

 

The peace deal, signed in June 2025, aims to end three decades of conflict
between the DRC and Rwanda.

 

A key part of the agreement binds both nations to developing a regional
economic integration framework. This arrangement would expand cooperation
between the two states, the US government and American investors on
"transparent, formalized end-to-end mineral chains".

 

Despite its immense mineral wealth, the DRC is among the five poorest
countries in the world. It has been seeking US investment in its mineral
sector.

 

The US has in turn touted a potential multi-billion-dollar investment
programme to anchor its mineral supply chains in the traumatised and poor
territory.

 

The peace that the June 2025 deal promises, therefore, hinges on chaining
mineral supply to the US in exchange for Washington's powerful - but vaguely
formulated - military oversight.

 

The peace agreement further establishes a joint oversight committee - with
representatives from the African Union, Qatar and the US - to receive
complaints and resolve disputes between the DRC and Rwanda.

 

But beyond the joint oversight committee, the peace deal creates no specific
security obligations for the US.

 

The relationship between the DRC and Rwanda has been marred by war and
tension since the bloody First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congo
wars. At the heart of much of this conflict is the DRC's mineral wealth. It
has fuelled competition, exploitation and armed violence.

 

This latest peace deal introduces a resources-for-security arrangement. Such
deals aren't new in Africa. They first emerged in the early 2000s as
resources-for-infrastructure transactions. Here, a foreign state would agree
to build economic and social infrastructure (roads, ports, airports,
hospitals) in an African state. In exchange, it would get a major stake in a
government-owned mining company. Or gain preferential access to the host
country's minerals.

 

We have studied mineral law and governance in Africa for more than 20 years.
The question that emerges now is whether a US-brokered
resources-for-security agreement will help the DRC benefit from its
resources.

 

Based on our research on mining, development and sustainability, we believe
this is unlikely.

 

This is because resources-for-security is the latest version of a
resource-bartering approach that China and Russia pioneered in countries
such as Angola, the Central African Republic and the DRC.

 

Resource bartering in Africa has eroded the sovereignty and bargaining power
of mineral-rich nations such as the DRC and Angola.

 

Further, resources-for-security deals are less transparent and more
complicated than prior resource bartering agreements.

 

DRC's security gaps

 

The DRC is endowed with major deposits of critical minerals like cobalt,
copper, lithium, manganese and tantalum. These are the building blocks for
21st century technologies: artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, wind
energy and military security hardware. Rwanda has less mineral wealth than
its neighbour, but is the world's third-largest producer of tantalum, used
in electronics, aerospace and medical devices.

 

For almost 30 years, minerals have fuelled conflict and severe violence,
especially in eastern DRC. Tungsten, tantalum and gold (referred to as 3TG)
finance and drive conflict as government forces and an estimated 130 armed
groups vie for control over lucrative mining sites. Several reports and
studies have implicated the DRC's neighbours - Rwanda and Uganda - in
supporting the illegal extraction of 3TG in this region.

 

The DRC government has failed to extend security over its vast (2.3 million
square kilometres) and diverse territory (109 million people, representing
250 ethnic groups). Limited resources, logistical challenges and corruption
have weakened its armed forces.

 

This context makes the United States' military backing enormously
attractive. But our research shows there are traps.

 

What states risk losing

 

Resources-for-infrastructure and resources-for-security deals generally
offer African nations short-term stability, financing or global goodwill.
However, the costs are often long-term because of an erosion of sovereign
control.

 

Here's how this happens:

 

certain clauses in such contracts can freeze future regulatory reforms,
limiting legislative autonomy

other clauses may lock in low prices for years, leaving resource-selling
states unable to benefit when commodity prices surge

arbitration clauses often shift disputes to international forums, bypassing
local courts

infrastructure loans are often secured via resource revenues used as loan
security. This effectively ringfences exports and undermines sovereign
fiscal control.

Examples of loss or near-loss of sovereignty from these sorts of deals
abound in Africa.

 

For instance, Angola's US$2 billion oil-backed loan from China Eximbank in
2004. This was repayable in monthly deliveries of oil, with revenues
directed to Chinese-controlled accounts. The loan's design deprived Angolan
authorities of decision-making power over that income stream even before the
oil was extracted.

 

These deals also fragment accountability. They often span multiple
ministries (such as defence, mining and trade), avoiding robust oversight or
accountability. Fragmentation makes resource sectors vulnerable to elite
capture. Powerful insiders can manipulate agreements for private gain.

 

In the DRC, this has created a violent kleptocracy, where resource wealth is
systematically diverted away from popular benefit.

 

Finally, there is the risk of re-entrenching extractive trauma. Communities
displaced for mining and environmental degradation in many countries across
Africa illustrate the long-standing harm to livelihoods, health and social
cohesion.

 

These are not new problems. But where extraction is tied to security or
infrastructure, such damage risks becoming permanent features, not temporary
costs.

 

What needs to change

 

Critical minerals are "critical" because they're hard to mine or substitute.
Additionally, their supply chains are strategically vulnerable and
politically exposed. Whoever controls these minerals controls the future.
Africa must make sure it doesn't trade that future away.

 

In a world being reshaped by global interests in critical minerals, African
states must not underestimate the strategic value of their mineral
resources. They hold considerable leverage.

 

But leverage only works if it is wielded strategically. This means:

 

investing in institutional strength and legal capacity to negotiate better
deals

demanding local value creation and addition

requiring transparency and parliamentary oversight for minerals-related
agreements

refusing deals that bypass human rights, environmental or sovereignty
standards.

Africa has the resources. It must hold on to the power they wield.

 

Hanri Mostert, SARChI Chair for Mineral Law in Africa, University of Cape
Town

 

Tracy-Lynn Field, Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law,
University of the Witwatersrand

 

This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative
Commons license. Read the original article.

 

 

 

 

Cameroon Nears Full Cocoa Traceability As EU Deadline Looms, but Risks
Remain

Yaounde - Cameroon has announced that 99% of its cocoa can now be traced
from individual farm plots to the export port - a significant step towards
meeting new European Union sustainability requirements.

 

Accoridng to the minister of trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, who
chaired a forum in Yaoundé assessing the country's readiness for the
European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which comes into effect on
30 December 2025.

 

The EUDR will ban the import of key commodities - such as cocoa, coffee,
soy, palm oil, wood, rubber, and cattle products - into the EU if they are
linked to land deforested after 2020.

 

Officials say 24,800 cocoa farmers have been registered in Cameroon's
traceability system, covering more than 28,000 cocoa plots that have been
geo-located and mapped. These efforts are built on a geo-referenced
data-sharing agreement signed on 28 August 2024 by Cameroon's cocoa and
coffee inter-professional body.

 

Chocolate and rice among key EU imports facing climate threats

 

The traceability tools allow exporters to identify the origins of cocoa and
prove compliance with EU sustainability standards.

 

To support this, the Cameroon Coffee and Cocoa Inter-professional Council
(CICC), in collaboration with the Sustainable Cocoa Programme, has launched
a free, user-friendly traceability platform.

 

"All exporters now have access to the coordinates of the cocoa plots they
source from," said Omer Gatien Maledy, executive secretary of the CICC.

 

"The software is simple, easy to use, and freely available. It enables any
exporter to verify and document the physical origin of their product."

 

Another tool - GEOSHARE - has also been developed by the CICC. It provides
parcel-level information to help exporters meet the EUDR's traceability
requirements.

 

Minister Mbarga Atangana welcomed the progress and reaffirmed the
government's commitment to inclusive compliance: "No farmer will be left
behind. We are working to ensure that no cocoa is unfairly denied access to
the European market."

 

The EU postponed enforcement of the EUDR from 1 January 2025 to 1 January
2026 after appeals from producing countries like Cameroon.

 

The delay is seen as critical: the EU is Cameroon's main export destination,
receiving 78 percent of its cocoa and 87 percent of its coffee, according to
official data.

 

As the world's fifth-largest cocoa producer, Cameroon's compliance with the
EUDR is essential. The regulation requires adherence to seven key
principles, including land rights, environmental protection, respect for
labour and human rights, and obtaining free, prior, and informed consent
from indigenous communities. It also demands compliance with rules on
taxation, anti-corruption, trade, and customs.

 

European Union adopts law to ban products driving deforestation

 

Structural and policy obstacles

 

Despite significant progress, officials admit that major challenges remain.
Chief among them is institutional fragmentation, with overlapping
responsibilities and poor coordination between the ministries of
agriculture, forestry, environment, and land Tenure. This lack of clarity
creates loopholes and delays.

 

Moreover, many smallholder farmers lack formal land titles, making it
difficult to invest in long-term sustainable practices. This also leaves
them vulnerable to land grabs and evictions by speculators.

 

Cameroon also supports cocoa agroforestry--a practice that combines cocoa
cultivation with forest conservation--as a sustainable model. However, the
EU has yet to fully recognise agroforestry within its definition of
deforestation-free agriculture.

 

"We strongly advocate for agroforestry, which we see as sustainable and
beneficial," Maledy said. "Unfortunately, the current EU regulation does not
recognise its value. We intend to actively participate in upcoming review
processes to ensure this approach is properly acknowledged."

 

In the meantime, the CICC has intensified its efforts to raise awareness
among farmers. NGOs have joined the campaign. In Ntui - a major
cocoa-growing area - Agro Produce Management Services (AMS), a local NGO
involved in cocoa certification, is training farmers in best practices such
as pruning, fertiliser use, and environmental compliance.

 

AMS enforces a strict no-deforestation policy for its members. "We believe
nearly all of our farmers are now aware of the EU regulation," said Jacobel
Ndam Mofor, a senior AMS official. "We do not accept new farmers who clear
forest land to establish cocoa farms."

 

West Africa hopes to strengthen cocoa prices with new members Cameroon,
Nigeria

 

Production ambitions vs. environmental commitments

 

Cameroon's plan to triple cocoa production to 640,000 metric tonnes by 2030
risks clashing with the EU's sustainability standards. Experts warn that
this goal is unlikely to be met through yield improvements alone.

 

"Climate change and ageing cocoa trees are limiting productivity across West
Africa," said Vignesh Kamath, Associate Programme Officer at UNEP-WCMC.
"Cameroon will likely need to expand the area under cocoa cultivation to
meet its targets."

 

However, such expansion could contravene the EUDR's deforestation rules,
leaving producers with cocoa that may not be eligible for the EU market.

 

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa: Wage Dispute Grounds Several FlySafair Planes

FlySafair confirmed several of its planes are grounded due to a wage dispute
between pilots and the local and regional carrier, reports EWN. The company
said 8% of its flights have been cancelled despite earlier reassurances that
operations would not be affected by the start of the strike. The trade union
Solidarity initiated a one-day strike, prompting FlySafair to respond with a
two-week lockout notice for striking pilots. Negotiations stalled with the
union demanding a 10.5% pay increase while the airline is offering 5.7%,
citing the high existing salaries of pilots and cost concerns. Further
disruptions may occur as talks continue.

 

Five Family Members Killed in Tragic R66 Crash Near Gingindlovu

 

Several family members, including a three-year-old child and a two-month-old
baby, have died following a tragic collision between a bakkie and a light
motor vehicle in Gingindlovu, KwaZulu-Natal, reports SABC News. Seven
others, three adults and four children under the age of 14, were seriously
injured. The injured were stabilized and treated by IPSS Medical Rescue
paramedics before being transported to nearby hospitals. The rescue team
expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

 

Senzo Meyiwa Trial Resumes

 

The Senzo Meyiwa trial has resumed in the Pretoria High Court, with the
state expected to continue with its case, reports EWN. Five men stand
accused of the Bafana Bafana captain's 2014 murder in what the state
believes was a hit. The court is expected to review events from a recent in
loco inspection, where the accused Muzi Sibiya claimed police assaulted him
to extract a confession, an allegation denied by lead investigator Brigadier
Bongani Gininda, who is currently testifying. The court may also decide on
the next steps in the trial, including how many more witnesses the state
intends to call.

 

Hunt Continues for Camps Bay Jeep Track Attacker After Brutal Assault

 

Police are still on the hunt for a suspect wanted in connection with the
brutal attack on the Jeep Track in Camps Bay, reports EWN. The woman
suffered severe injuries, including partial blindness in one eye and scalp
damage that required surgery. Her attacker fled after being spotted by two
approaching women. According to police, the motive remains unclear as
nothing was stolen from the victim. Investigations are ongoing, and the
community remains on high alert.

 

More South African news

 

 

 

 

Somalia: Liquidation and Termination of the Administered Account for Somalia

On July 10, 2025, the IMF Executive Board approved the termination of the
Administered Account for Somalia ("Somalia Administered Account" or SAA),
effective August 1, 2025. The SAA was established by the Executive Board on
December 18, 2019, to facilitate fundraising for, and delivery of, debt
relief to Somalia with respect to obligations owed to the Fund.

 

As stipulated in the SAA Instrument, the SAA shall remain in effect for as
long as necessary, in the judgment of the Fund, to conduct and wind up the
business of the account. Following Somalia's successful achievement of the
HIPC completion point in December 2023 and the full delivery of debt relief
under the HIPC Initiative and beyond-HIPC, the SAA has fulfilled its purpose
and may now be liquidated and terminated.

 

The Instrument also provides that the remaining balance in the SAA shall be
transferred to the PRG-HIPC Trust or returned to Contributors that request a
refund of their pro-rata share or any portion of such share. The SAA was
financed by 102 member countries and the European Commission (EC) which
provided a top up to be used in case any residual financing gap arose.

 

Read the original article on IMF.

 

 

 

 

Congo-Kinshasa: Soaring Demand for Electric Vehicles, Lithium-Ion Batteries
Creates Environmental Crisis in DRC

United Nations — Electric vehicles contribute to an ongoing environmental
and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Mining operations cause deforestation, pollution, food insecurity and
exploitative labor practices.

 

Advertisers paint electric vehicles as an environmentally friendly option to
help save the planet. In the West, American states like California and New
York incentivize citizens to go green and help their cities by ditching
gas-powered vehicles.

 

California officials are trying to enact legislation to reach 100 percent
zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. Across the country in New York,
officials implemented the Drive Clean Rebate. Through this program, New
Yorkers can receive up to 2,000 USD off the purchase or lease of an electric
vehicle.

 

Governments are pushing for more electric vehicle sales because they are
helping reduce the damage inflicted by fossil fuels. In the United States,
emissions have reduced by around 66 percent. In China, a country dominating
the electric vehicle production and sales market, emissions have been
reduced by an estimated range of 37 percent to 45 percent.

 

However, consumers must understand that electric vehicles primarily benefit
the environment in wealthier regions. Rising demands for electric vehicles
and lithium-ion batteries foster destruction and exploitation in poorer
countries like the DRC.

 

One of the key minerals used to make lithium-ion batteries is cobalt. The
DRC is the world's top producer of mined cobalt, at a staggering 75 percent.
To fulfill high demands for the mineral, the DRC has become a hot spot
overrun by industrial and artisanal small-scale mining operations.

 

"The surge in demand for lithium-ion batteries has dramatically increased
global demand for cobalt, and DRC cobalt production is projected to double
by 2030," said the International Labor Organization (ILO) to IPS. "Because
industrial mines can't keep pace, this has encouraged expansion of artisanal
and unregulated mining."

 

Artisanal small-scale mines are poorly regulated, informal operations for
extracting minerals. Located all over the DRC, these mines exploit child
labor, use basic handheld tools, and disregard safety protocols.

 

"ASM can also lead to conflict as clashes take place between traditional
licensed large-scale mining operations and ASM over access to minerals," Dr.
Lamfu Yengong, the Forest campaigner for Greenpeace Africa, told IPS. "While
statistics on the actual number of ASM miners in SSA are hard to find, it is
estimated that in the DRC alone, there are between 200,000 and 250,000 ASM
miners who are responsible for mining as much as 25 percent of the DRC's
cobalt."

 

The growth of mining is also decimating the DRC's environment. Mining sites
need large areas of land to operate. As laborers dig, open pits form,
releasing dust and other toxic chemicals into the air and polluting
surrounding waterways.

 

Cobalt mines often contain sulfur minerals, which can create acid mine
drainage. This process occurs when sulfur minerals are exposed to both air
and water.

 

Sulfuric acid is incredibly harmful because it can make water unsafe for
human consumption, kill aquatic life and produce algal blooms. Contact with
the acid causes skin irritation and burns, and respiratory issues, and
long-term exposure increases the risk of cancer.

 

Deforestation, erosion, contaminated soil and water sources, increased noise
levels and dust and smoke emissions from mining pursuits disrupt the lives
of Congolese locals and wildlife. Many are killed or forced to relocate as
land, once prosperous for life, now nourishes profit-fueled exploits.

 

"Mining in the DRC is tearing through the heart of the Congo Basin, one of
the world's most important carbon sinks, leaving behind poisoned rivers,
deforested landscapes, and devastated ecosystems," Yengong said. "What once
were lush forests are now scarred by unregulated extraction, threatening
biodiversity, accelerating climate change, and robbing future generations of
their environmental heritage."

 

Despite having over 197 million acres of arable land, the DRC is one of the
top-ranking areas of food insecurity globally. Over 25 million Congolese
people suffer from a lack of access to food.

 

Mining endeavors only fuel the hunger crisis because contaminants in the
soil and water make growing crops difficult. Forest resources also disappear
as more land is cleared for new mines.

 

Alongside food insecurity impacted by pollution, agriculture efforts suffer
from climate change. Weather patterns have drastically changed across the
globe, making rain patterns unpredictable. A heavy reliance on rainfed
agriculture and prolonged droughts in the DRC immensely impact food
supplies.

 

One of the many camps in the DRC for people displaced by conflict and
environmental devastation. Credit: UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti

 

The pursuit of minerals for lithium-ion batteries encourages mass
destruction and egregious human rights violations in the DRC. But mining
operations cannot simply stop to solve the problem. Many Congolese people
rely on working in the mines to support their families.

 

Groups such as the ILO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and
the World Food Programme (WFP) are actively working on sustainable solutions
to stop further exploitation and harm to the DRC.

 

"To improve the health of workers in or near mine sites, the ILO is
supporting the roll-out of the universal health insurance scheme (Couverture
Santé Universelle--CSU), which aims to provide coverage for all individuals
in DRC, including those working in the mining sector and their families,"
the ILO said. "The benefit package will include a range of services such as
general and specialist consultations, hospitalization, essential medicines
and vaccines, medical procedures and exams, maternity and newborn care,
palliative care, and patient transfers between facilities."

 

The UNEP is forming plans focusing on minimizing the environmental impacts
of mining. Working with the DRC's government

 

"UNEP is working with the DRC's government to develop a national plan for
the extraction of minerals like cobalt. The plan would focus on minimizing
the environmental impact of mining," said Corey Pattison in a UNEP press
release. "We are also exploring whether local and international institutions
can help resolve conflict around mineral extraction, including through
processes like revenue sharing and dispute resolution."

 

The WFP is trying to ease the problem by investing in resilience programs.
Activities are created to build skills in communities to improve long-term
food security. Skill building includes educating farmers in post-harvest
loss management, literacy, business and collective marketing.

 

They also work closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to
limit negative environmental impacts. Reforestation initiatives are actively
underway across the DRC. The WFP reported that 3,850 women in North and
South Ubangi planted tree seedlings in 2022.

 

The crisis in the DRC should not mark the end of lithium batteries and
electric vehicles. Scientists are working on new solutions for cleaner, more
efficient power sources. Some new batteries in the works include sodium-ion
batteries, silicon-carbon batteries, and lithium-sulfur batteries.
Introducing more power sources could limit the overwhelming strain on
resources in the DRC as the need for cobalt would reduce.

 

A report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) suggests that sustainable mining techniques and technologies are
another tactic to reduce environmental impacts. However, significant change
relies on the DRC's government and its officials. They must enforce stricter
mandates to mitigate the harm ravaging Congolese people's lives.

 

The ILO says that Corporate Social Responsibility has been made mandatory
through the 2018 mining code. Mining companies are required to invest .3
percent of their annual turnover into community development projects.

 

In turn, the mandate allows for easy tracking of mining companies' income
through transparency mechanisms like the Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative (EITI).

 

While the DRC has enacted environmental regulations and is involved in
additional support programs, its history of weak institutions and conflict
challenges aid efforts. Rampant instability greatly limits the
implementation and enforcement of policies.

 

"The world's clean energy transition must not come at the cost of Congolese
lives and forests. The critical minerals beneath the DRC fuel the global
economy, yet the people above them remain among the poorest and most
exploited," said Yengong. "Real climate solutions must prioritize the rights
of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, end greenwashing, and ensure
justice, not just extraction."

 

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau

 

Read the original article on IPS.

 

 

 

 

 

Nigeria: Electricity Regulator Slashes Band a Tariff, Gives Reason

The regulatory body said the decision followed the need for tariff to
reflect power generation subsidy by the federal government.

 

The Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) has issued a new
tariff to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited.

 

MainPower is the electricity company in Enugu State which succeeded Enugu
Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

 

Slashing of tariff

 

EERC has now issued an order compelling MainPower to slash the electricity
tariff in the South-eastern state.

 

The order with the number: EERC/2025/003 was issued on Saturday and entitled
"Tariff Order for MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited 2025."

 

The reviewed electricity cost for Band A is brought down from N209/ kWh (per
kiloWatt) to N160/kWh.

 

The new tariff would take effect from 1 August 2025, according to the EER.

 

The regulatory commission said its decision was cost reflective, insisting
that tariffs must reflect power generation subsidies by the federal
government for the benefit of electricity consumers.

 

The EER noted that it issued the order in compliance with the Enugu State
Electricity Law 2023 which empowers the commission to regulate the
activities of electricity companies in the state.

 

'Why we reduced electricity tariff'- EER

 

Speaking to reporters in Enugu on Saturday, the Chairperson of the EER,
Chijioke Okonkwo, said the reduction in tariff followed the commission's
review of MainPower's tariff and licence applications as the new subsidiary
company that operates in Enugu State.

 

"We reviewed their entire costs, using our Tariff Methodology Regulations
2024, and the supporting Distribution Tariff Model to get an average price
of N94.

 

"The price is low due to some reasons and including the fact the federal
government is subsidising electricity generation cost which comes to a cost
of about N45 out of the actual cost of N112 for Enugu State," Mr Okonkwo
explained.

 

"That was how we came about the average tariff of N94 as cost reflective
tariff at our level as a subnational electricity market."

 

The chairperson said that the actual Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) cost of
purchase made by Mainpower outside the federal government's subsidised power
would trigger automatic tariff adjustment to accommodate the PPA price given
that such power would not be subsidised.

 

"Breaking this across the various tariff bands means that Band A will be
paying N160 while other Bands B, C, D, and E are frozen.

 

"Band A at N160 will help MainPower to manage the rate shock, and if the
subsidy is removed, the savings will assist them in stabilising the tariff
over a defined period of time. Nevertheless, at all times, the tariff will
be cost reflective and will not require any state subsidy," he stated.

 

Mr Okonkwo, however, said the new N160 Band A tariff could be difficult to
sustain should the federal government remove the generation tariff subsidy
currently being enjoyed by electricity consumers throughout the country, as
tariffs would most likely rise.

 

"But until then, it is only right that Ndi Enugu - Band A customers enjoy
the reduced tariff effective August 1, 2025," he said.

 

'We will begin monitoring compliance'

 

Mr Okonkwo also announced that EERC had put in place monitoring and
evaluation systems and guidelines to ensure MainPower's compliance with
service commitments so that its customers do not pay more for less power.

 

"MainPower is obliged to publish daily on its website a rolling seven-day
average daily hours of supply on each Bank A feeder no later than 9a.m. of
the next day.

 

"Where MainPower fails to deliver on the committed level of service on Band
A feeder for two consecutive days, MainPower shall report this to the
commission within 24 hours," he said.

 

"Where MainPower fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A
feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically
downgraded to the recorded level of supply."

 

The chairperson assured that the commission was committed to working with
industry developers, investors and customers to develop access and improve
electricity services to Enugu people.

 

"This is a win for the establishment," he stated.

 

Background

 

In March 2023, the National Assembly passed 16 constitutional amendment
bills, one of which had to do with devolution of powers to allow states to
generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

 

In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu assented to the electricity bill, which
authorises states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and
distribute electricity.

 

The new electricity law repeals the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, signed
by the then Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2005.

 

With the new law, states would be able to issue licenses to private
investors who can operate mini-grids and power plants, but such state
licenses are not to extend to inter-state or transnational distribution of
electricity.

 

In the South-east, Enugu State was the first to seek regulatory oversight by
enacting the Enugu State Electricity Law, 2023, which established EERC as an
agency responsible for the distribution and regulation of power in the
state.

 

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission subsequently transferred the
regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Enugu State to EER in
April 2024.

 

In exercise of regulatory powers, EERC, in October last year, licensed
Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited to replace the EEDC in
distributing electricity in Enugu State.

 

Read the original article on Premium Times.

 

 

 

Nigeria: Indigenous Oil and Gas Summit Postponed Indefinitely Amid Planning
Concerns

The Organizing Committee of the Indigenous Oil and Gas Summit has announced
the indefinite postponement of the highly anticipated event, which was
originally slated for July 23-24, 2025, in Lagos.

 

In an official statement released on Monday, the committee cited "current
circumstances" that could affect planning, logistics, and the overall
quality of the summit as key reasons behind the decision. While specific
details were not disclosed, organizers emphasized the importance of
maintaining high standards for stakeholder engagement and experience.

 

"As a platform committed to excellence, inclusion, and the advancement of
indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector, we believe it is in the
best interest of all stakeholders to reschedule," the statement read.

 

The postponement has been met with mixed reactions across the industry, as
the summit was expected to bring together key players, policy makers, and
innovators to discuss strategies for boosting indigenous involvement in
Nigeria's oil and gas industry.

 

The organizing committee, led by Wenefred Ogunze, expressed regret over the
inconvenience caused and reassured registered participants and partners that
a new date will be communicated in due course. They also reaffirmed their
commitment to the summit's goals and encouraged continued engagement from
stakeholders.

 

Read the original article on Vanguard.

 

 

 

 

Africa: SMEs Urged to Tap Trade Opportunities in Horn of Africa

Nairobi — The government has called on small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) to explore emerging business opportunities in the Horn of Africa,
citing regional integration as a key driver of economic growth.

 

Speaking during the Global Somali Entrepreneurial Forum in Nairobi,
Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development Susan Mang'eni said the region's
interconnected markets offer untapped potential for cross-border trade and
investment.

 

"There is enormous potential in intra-African trade that remains
underutilized due to barriers such as limited trade financing, fragmented
payment systems, and inadequate infrastructure," said Mang'eni.

 

She pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a
critical platform, especially under its protocol supporting youth and women
in trade, and urged financial institutions to design tailored financial
instruments to support regional commerce.

 

The two-day forum, held on July 19-20, brought together policymakers,
entrepreneurs, and investors from across the Horn of Africa to discuss ways
of enhancing economic cooperation.

 

The event emphasized the need for structured investment vehicles such as SME
funds, co-investment platforms, and innovation hubs to attract diaspora
capital and drive long-term growth.

 

Mang'eni reaffirmed the Kenyan government's commitment to supporting
enterprise development through ongoing reforms aimed at improving the
business environment, access to finance, and regional trade.

 

"The government is working closely with the private sector to promote
innovation, create jobs, and deepen trade integration across the region,"
she said.

 

Also present at the forum were Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Kenya's
Special Envoy on Technology Amb. Philip Thigo, and Somalia's Ambassador to
Kenya, H.E. Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle.

 

Read the original article on Capital FM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 Invest Wisely!

Bulls n Bears 

 

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INVESTORS DIARY 2025

 


Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


Companies under Cautionary

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


CBZH

GetBucks

EcoCash

 


Padenga

Econet

RTG

 


Fidelity

TSL

FMHL

 


 

 

 

 


 <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> 

 


 

 


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for guideline purposes only and d from third parties.

 


 

 


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